The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck, just below the Adams apple and voice box. It consists of two lobes, and is the maestro of the hormone function in your body. Studies have shown that it is more likely for people with ‘euthyroid’ to fall ill with thyroid cancer, than those with (e.g.) hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Euthyroid is a normal thyroid gland. This concludes that, even though you might NOT be suffering from general thyroid problems – you can get thyroid neoplasm. Hyper-and-hypothyroidism can be a side effect of a large thyroid tumour, but not the causer of thyroid cancer.

Causes of thyroid cancer are not very clear, but some include: genetics – the RET gene passed from parent-to-child; repeated radiation exposure to the head/dental, neck and chest; history of enlarged thyroid (goiter); being a white or Asian female over 40y of age; and depleted iodine levels in the body. It has also been noted that thyroid nodules found in humans under the age of 20y, often turns out to be malignant!

Symptoms of thyroid cancer includes: sudden-and-persistent hoarseness of voice, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty in swallowing; pain in the neck/throat and a lump in the throat area. Take note that the lump is not always visible to the eye, and one should regularly check, or ask your GP to examine the health of your thyroid. It has to be stressed here that, if you EVER had nodules in your thyroid, yearly check-ups is a MUST. Even if your nodules were benign (they usually show up ‘warm’ during radionucline treatment) – any change in them, e.g. getting larger or more of them; can be a sign of them becoming malignant – thus cancerous.

There are four different types of thyroid cancers. Papillary and follicular cancers start in the follicular cells of the thyroid. This is the more common type of thyroid cancer found in 80% - 90% of patients. This cancer grows slowly, and is very treatable. Medullary cancers form in C-cells of the thyroid, and occur in 5% - 10% of thyroid cancer patients. This form of thyroid cancer is also easy to treat. The more serious type of thyroid cancer is anaplastic thyroid cancer, and found amongst 1% - 2% of patients. Unfortunately this thyroid cancer spreads fast, and due to the abnormality of the cells they are not easy to recognise. If thyroid cancer metastasises; it usually spreads to the lymph nodes, nerves, or blood vessels and then to the bones and/or lungs.

Diagnosing thyroid cancer entails a few tests. Blood tests checking the TSH levels, and also the calcium levels in your blood will be done. High calcium levels in the blood can be a sign of medullary thyroid cancer. An ultrasound to see nodules (amounts and sizes) can also be performed. Performing a radionucline procedure can show the ‘activity’ of the nodules present. ‘Cold’ nodules tend to absorb less radioactive substance, and this often proves malignancy. A biopsy by fine needle aspiration has found to be the more cost-effective, sensitive and accurate option of thyroid biopsies. It has also been noted that; if you need to undergo thyroid surgery, an Ear-Nose-and-Throat specialist should be your choice – as their understanding of the throat area and vocal cords are better than that of a general surgeon. Discuss this with your doctor if necessary.

Your prognosis (chance of recovery) of thyroid cancer depends on the stage-and-type of cancer. The more/bigger nodules present can influence your prognosis negatively. That is (again) why yearly examining of the thyroid and therefore early detection is so important. Thyroid cancer treatment wil consist of surgery, radioactive iodine, hormone treatment, radiation and/or chemotherapy. The good news is that only 5% of thyroid nodules turn out cancerous!!